Register closure for bottles



May M L. F. ZEHRHNG REGISTER CLOSURE FOR BOTTLES Filed June 15, 1942 Patented May 14, 1946 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to register closures adapted particularly for attachment to liquor bottles for the purpose of registering the number of times that liquid is poured from the bottle.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is universally adaptable for use in conjunction with bottles having different sized necks so as to enable transfer of the-same register closure from one bottle to another.

Another object of the invention is to provide a register closure device of the character described which is universally adaptable for use in conjunction with different sizes and designs of pouring spouts which may be placed in the necks of such bottles, without requiring any change either in the design of the pouring spouts already available or in the design of the register closure when it is to be used with another pouring spout.

Another object of the invention is to provide a register closure device of the character referred to including means for detachably securing the same to bottles having necks of diflerent sizes and in which the actuating means for the registering mechanism includes a part which normally lies adjacent to and exteriorly of the outlet opening of the bottle (or the outlet opening of a pouring spout used in conjunction with such bottle) so as normally to lie in the path of passage of liquid from the bottle, said portion being movable out of the path of passage of liquid from the bottle upon actuation of the registering mechanism and automatically restorable to its normal position upon release of the actuating means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character referred to in which the portion of the actuating means for the register mechanism which normally lies in the path of flow of liquid from the bottle is adjustable or flexible to enable it to lie either directly over the outlet opening of a bottle or to lie over the outlet opening of an auxiliary pouring spout which may be placed in the neck of such bottle, said portion being adjustable to conform with the outlet opening of pouring spouts of different lengths or sizes.

Register closure devices for bottles have been heretofore proposed, but such devices have comprised closures intended for insertion in the neck of a bottle and hence usable only with a bottle having a neck of the particular size and shape for which the closure is designed. Previously proposed constructions, furthermore, have availed of enclosed valve means associated with the actuating means for the registering mechanism.

This is disadvantageous and impractical because either necessitating arts subject to rust from which moisture cannot be removed or providing a source of leakage of liquid into the registering mechanism, through the means interconnecting the valve and the actuating mechanism, with similar disadvantageous results involving inability to remove liquid leaking into the registering mechanism and a tendency to produce rusting of the parts thereof.

The present invention overcomes the foregoing difliculties and provides a device which is universally adaptable and which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view showing the device supported on the exterior of the neck of a bottle, illustrating in detail the mechanism of the register dev1ce.

Figure 2 is a side view of the device showing the relationship of certain portions of the device with one form of auxiliary pouring spout.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view, partly fragmentary, showing the indicia ring availed of in the mechanism.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 particularly, the device is shown as being supported adjacent the mouth of a bottle I, by means of a clamping memher 2, substantially circular in shape, adapted to have its ends adjustably engaged with the neck of the bottle by means ofa screw 3 suitably threaded in one end of the clamping member 2, the shank of the screw passing through the other end of the clamping member.

One form of auxiliary pouring spout t is illustrated suitably supported in the interior of the neck of the bottle, and includes a pouring portion with a substantially circular opening 5 therein, adapted to direct liquid or other material into a suitable vessel when the contents of the bottle l is being poured.

The register device itself comprises a substantially cup-shaped housing t, including a rear wall 1. The said rear wall I has a segmental indentation 8 therein, adapted to receive a segment member of the lever S, the segmental indentation of the back being 'formed so as to permit movement of the segment member it of said lever about a pivotal point determined by the screw I l threaded into the rear wall '5 of the housing and rotatably supporting the member it.

Extending upwardly from one edge of the member I0 is an arm l2 preferably integral with the segment member ID, adapted to have suitably fi ed adiacent its outer end the closure portion iii of the device. The sald closure portion includcs channel portions M adapted to engage the side edges oi the member 2. The member i2 is provided with any preferred number of threaded openings l5, adapted to receive therein the screw is by which the closure portion i3 is fixed to the arm If, so as to enable the acljust-- lllellii ol' the member 13 for different types of auxiliary pouring spouts 4.

Interiorly of the cup shaped member 6 a toothed indicla ring 'r ratchet ll is provided adapted to be rotated in the housing by means of a ratchet and pawl mechanism of generally conventional construction, the pawl i8 being supported on the segment member ID by means of a screw l9 and adapted to be held in engagement with the toothed portions of the indlcia ring by means or a spring 2|. A pawl 22 i provided and adapted to engage the teeth 20 of the indicia ring by means of a sprin 23.

A suitable spring 24 is availed of to return the segment member ID to its non-dispensing position, after the dispensing operation has been eifected by movement of the lever 9. The ratchet and pawl mechanism, or course, is adapted to ill move the indicia ring in a clockwise direction by means of the engagement of the pawl l8 with the teeth 20 in a step'by step manner in accordance with conventional operation of this type of ratchet construction. A suitable cover 28 is provided to fully enclose the ratchet and pawl mechanism first described.

In the wall of the cup-shaped member 6 a suitable opening is provided, as shown in Figure 2, so as to enable the person dispensing the liquid from the bottle to discern the indicia located on the periphery of the indicia ring II, Figure 3 showing in more detail the location of the respective indicia on the ring I], and the rel|aitionship of the same with the segment member As will be apparent from consideration of Fi ure 1, when the lever 9 is operated, the closure member l3 will move out of position over the opening 5 in the pouring spout l, and permit the pouring of the liquid into a glass or other place. Upon release of the lever member 9 by the operator, the spring 24 will return the closure member l3 over the pouring opening 5, and while it 15 not necessary that the member l3 prevent absolutely the leakage or any of the contents of the bottle, it is essential that it at least prevent the accurate pouring of the same, whereby it is necessary to actuate the lever 8 to properly per- :orm the pouring function or the pouring spout It will be apparent that the closure member II is susceptible of being bent in various directions by reason of the construction thereof, so that the particular device is not limited to use with the particular-pouring spout l, illustrated. but may be used with many different typ pouring spouts.

In addition, the clamping mean 2 is adjustable so as to enable the attachment of the Mk istering mechanism to bottles having necks of different sizes. The mechanism is particularly suited to its use in connection with dispensing bottles of the type described by reason of the fact that the operating parts thereof are in no danger of coming into contact with the liquid dispensed from the bottle, and, therefore, operation of the mechanism can in no way be affected by rust or other foreign matter entering the same.

Havin thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent or the United States is:

l. in a device of the class described, in combination, registering mechanism including a lever adapted to be manually actuated and connected with said registering mechanism tor operating the some, means for detachably securing said registering mechanism to a bottle or the like con tainer adiacont the outlet opening thereof, means associated with said lever and having a portion movable transversely across said opening eateriorly thereof and normally positioned adjacent to and exteriorly of the outlet opening of said bottle, whereby said. portion will normally lie in the path of passage of liquid from said bottle, said portion being movabl laterally of the opening out of the path of passage of liquid from the bottle upon actuation of said leverto operate the registering mechanism, and means for automatically restoring said portion to its normal position upon releasing the lever from actuating engagement, the second means including an arm fixed with respect to said lever, and said portion comprising a member slidable longitudinally of said arm, means for locking said member in difierent fixed positions relative to said arm, whereby said portion is adjustable conformably to different lengths of auxiliary pourin spouts emplaceable in the outlet opening of such bottle whereby said portion will be positioned normally adjacent to and exteriorly of the outlet opening of such spout so as to lie in the path of flow of liquid from such spout.

2. In a device of the class described, in combination, registering mechanism including a lever adapted to be manually actuated and connected with said registering mechanism for operating the same, means for detachably securing said registering mechanism to a bottle or the like container adjacent the outlet opening thereof, means associated with said lever and having a portion movable transversely across said opening exteriorly thereof and normally positioned adjacent to and exteriorly of the outlet opening of said bottle, whereby said portion will normally lie in the path of passage of liquid from said bottle, said portion being movable laterally of the opening out of the path of passage of liquid from the bottle upon actuation of said lever to operate the registering mechanism, and means for automatically restoring said portion to its normal position upon releasing'the lever from actuating engagement, the second means including an arm fixed with respect to said lever. and said portion comprising a member slidable longitudinally of said am. means for locking said member in different fixed positions relative to said am, and said member being flexible so that it may be bent to different positions about an axis transversely of the longitudinal axis of movement of said member relative to said arm, whereby said portion is adjustable conformably to different lengths of auxiliary pouring spouts emplaceable in the outlet opening of such bottle whereby said portion will be positioned normally adjacent to and exteriorly o! the outlet opening of such spout so as to lie in the path or flow of liquid from such spout.

LEW F. ZEHRING. 

